Halloween is a time of the year that we sanction glorifying the gruesome and the macabre. It should not be a time when we lose sight of the impact the displays we select for our homes have on others.

As I drive through Rockville Centre, I have been shocked and appalled to see lifelike figures hanging from tree branches. We all know about the regrettable history of lynching in America. Such insensitive displays have no place in our community.

Louise Skolnik

Rockville Centre

The trees of RVC

To the Editor:

Many of our residents were drawn to Rockville Centre by its tree-lined streets, which are an important part of the village’s character. Allen Road is blessed with rows of sycamore trees that form a beautiful canopy. The sycamores have deep roots and survived many storms and hurricanes over the past 70 years.

I recently found a notice from the village that our street was to be repaved and that the two 70-year-old sycamore trees on our curb were to be removed. Our neighbors received a similar notice, and were all extremely upset as we concluded that the rows of sycamores were slated for removal. I contacted the mayor’s office and was amazed at the rapid and positive response. Two days later, Mayor Francis Murray, Deputy Mayor Nancy Howard, and Superintendant of Public Works Harry Weed met with me and my neighbor in front of our house to discuss our concerns.

Our fears were quickly addressed, as the mayor made it very clear that his administration made preservation of RVC’s trees an important priority. If the notice was not signed and returned, then the trees would not be removed. The village notice will be modified to make this important choice clearer. Residents with trees that pose a danger to homes due to poor condition, weak roots, disease or other reasons can opt to have their trees removed during the repaving process and replaced with new trees.

Mayor Murray had previously met with neighbors down the block, and had worked closely with residents on Wright Road to ensure that 17 trees were not cut down. Our appreciation goes to Mayor Murray and to his administration for their efforts in saving RVC’s trees.